Disclaimer: I do not own the Alex Rider series.
Snakehead plot spoiler in this chappie.
Thank you to my wonderful beta Anonymous-chic because, let's face it, a good beta is hard to find.
I held John's hand as we walked slowly up the stairs to the plane. We walked through the hustle and bustle of the other passengers to the back where we had the private section all to ourselves.
It was lovely, it really was, air conditioned, mini bar included and the comfiest looking chairs I'd ever seen. I plopped down beside the window while John gently slid our luggage into the overhead storage, sitting down beside me and taking my hand in both of his.
"What if-" I began, about to blurt out another one of the stupid worries I had about leaving Alex behind.
"He'll be fine Helen. Besides, he'll see you tomorrow evening when he flies out" John assured me, kissing my cheek.
I frowned.
"What do you mean, 'he'll see you tomorrow'? He's going to miss you too" I said, carefully avoiding the words 'After all, you're his father'.
John stared at me shrewdly and I kept my face worried. I didn't have to fake. God, he's so clever I think he knows already.
"Helen, let's not kid ourselves. He doesn't even know who I am. All he knows is that he's supposed to call me 'dad' and listen when I tell him off" John said, trying to be brave. I could sense a note of hurt in him though.
I rubbed his hand gently. I would have paid a million pounds to see his thoughts.
"Ash sends his love by the way. Told me to tell you he's going through cold turkey for the chicken and ham pie you used to make for him" John said, smirking, trying to change the subject.
Ash and John were very close. When we first married, I used to be jealous of Ash. John would go and play squash with him and come back, exhausted, telling me all about what Ash said and what Ash was doing. They were like an old, married couple.
"I'll give you one to bring to him next time you see him" I promised, kissing John's cheek. John smiled sweetly at me and raised his eyebrows.
"You know, we have an entire night to ourselves before Alex arrives..." he said, grinning suggestively. He wasn't usually such a slut. I grinned at the change and kissed him softly, pulling away again quickly.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I have plans with my secret husband" I said flippantly, pulling my hair back and putting in a scrunchie. I pushed my hair back out of my eyes and John grabbed me around the waist, pulling me onto his lap and kissing me quickly.
"I love you, Hel. I love you more than air" he said, kissing me again.
I arched an eyebrow.
"Really? And this would have nothing at all to do with the fact that you've been starved of s-"
He silenced me with a kiss, grinning.
"Cheeky. But seriously Helen, I do. You make me so happy with just a look" he said, stroking my cheek.
I took his hand and kissed it, feeling ashamed and filthy inside. I didn't deserve John. He was too good for me.
John tilted my chin up with one finger and kissed me gently, opening our mouths, his breath filling mine. He sucked gently on my bottom lip and I played with the back of his hair gently, teasing it between my fingers. John wrapped his arms around my waist and ran his tongue along the inside of my mouth. I shivered slightly and pulled back, kissing his forehead and slipping into my seat.
John growled softly and I rolled my eyes. Typical. All men thought women found them irresistable. Then again, John did look so good...
The air hostess came through and smiled at us.
"Sir, Madam, if you could just fasten your seat belts, the plane is going to coast onto the runway now" she chimed. John and I smiled back and I pulled out my seat belt, fastening it carefully.
John looked at me and beamed.
"Isn't this wonderful? Just think, tomorrow morning we'll be waking up to the Med and tropical temperatures" he said, kissing me once and buckling his seat belt. It was then, as the plane turned onto the runway that we both heard it. A ticking.
John unfastened his belt and jumped to his feet, the air hostess instantly blocking his way.
"Sir, please remain seated" she chimed.
"There's a bomb on the plane! Stop the plane and get everyone off!" he ordered.
"There's a bomb on the bleedin' plane?! EVERYONE OUT! BOMB ON THE PLANE!" squawked the hostess loudly. The staff rushed for the door and John took my hand, lifting me to my feet.
"The doors shut! Manual over-ride!" yelled someone.
John kicked the window violently, trying to break it.
"Hey Mister, it's bulletproof. Unbreakable!" someone called back to John who gave out an angry grunt.
I rubbed his shoulder and he took my hand, leading me into the mens toilet. He pulled and kicked the toilet then the sink, trying in vain to clear some way to get out. Then, he wrapped his arms around me and whispered quietly in my ear.
"Don't worry Helen, it'll be fine. It's probably just Ash or Ian trying to play a prank" he said. I didn't believe a word of it and neither did he. And I loved him for telling me bittersweet lies. Not like my lies. My deceiving, betraying lies.
"John, I love you. I love you so much. And-and I-I it hurts me anytime I think of it but I- Yassen and I slept together" I told him fearfully.
I watched, expecting a rare outburst of anger or yelling or something. But John did what I least expected, a thing I'd never seen him do. He cried. Tears rolled down his nose as he sunk to his knees, his arms still wrapped around my waist. I rubbed his hair and then knelt in front of him, kissing his cheek.
"I love you. I thought you were mine" he said miserably, trying in vain to stop the tears that rolled on.
Then I started crying. A punch, hateful words, I could handle those. But this. It hurt the most.
"I am yours John. I love you. I love you" I whispered.
He kissed me desperately, a kiss filled with longing and need and want. I ran a hand through his hair and he slowly backed me against the wall, pulling both of us to our feet, his tears mixing with mine.
He pulled back, ignoring the screaming outside, and stared deeply into my eyes.
"I will always love you" he told me, kissing me again.
I moaned softly.
"John, I'm yours. I married you. I love you. I adore you. I will always love you" I told him, planting another kiss on his lip. I took his hand in mine and noticed the slight tremble in it. Then, the screaming stopped, replaced by the roar of fire. My eyes met John's and we leaned in. My lips met his and he hugged me tightly. Then the rush enveloped us. Searing heat. A loud bang. Hitting the floor hard. Unable to move, unable to let go of John's hand, not that I wanted to. I never wanted the feeling of his arms around me to end.
I heard footsteps slapping the ground. The noise of water. Smoke and steam rushed about until the hose was sprayed at the flames near us, and then I could see directly across tho the viewing room where I swore I could see Ash standing, arms folded, staring out directly at me. And I knew. The look on his face told me. Him. This was his doing. I groaned softly and rolled over, John breathing labouriously beside me now, arms holding me to him with his last bit of strength.
"Ash" I muttered hoarsely, my throat stinging badly.
John squeezed me tightly.
"Let's leave t-together Helen Beckett Rider. With all the d-dignity we can" he said, the speech causing him agonizing pain. And there, with my husband's arms around me, I closed my eyes tightly, ready to sleep. To lie in. For good. To love my darling John always...